Chapter III: Part 3

To this I say, the Law of Generation to increase and multiply, was placed in Man's Seed and Nature by God the Creator, as in other Creatures: For this is to be observed, that _Adam_ did not come to be a living Soul by Generation, as we do ever since; but he and _Eve_ were first made as a Foundation for Generation; so that God made or created but one Man and one Woman, all Men and Women that have been generated and begotten ever since, cannot properly be said to be made nor created, but begotten by Generation; for God never made and created but one Man and one Woman, all others are generated and begotten.

Therefore when Man begets a Son or Daughter in the way of Generation, he begets the Soul or Spirit of the Child as well as the Body; and the Soul or Spirit came out of the Man's Loin well as the Body: As it was said by _Jacob_, _Seventy Souls came out of his Loins_; if so then that Spirit or Soul that is begotten by Generation, it must and doth die: For this I say, God never breathed the Breath of Life into no Man, but into _Adam_: The Spirit of Life in all Men and Women else or since have been generated and begotten, and what Spirit and Soul of Man that is generated, it doth die and turn to Dust, till the Regeneration, when God shall raise it again, which will not be a Minute of an Hour to the dead Spirit, as I said before. So it may be clear to those that have the true Light of Faith in them, that the Soul or Spirit of Man doth die as well as the Body: They both came into the World together alive, and they shall both go out of the World again dead, as I have shewed before. Also the Reader may see, that those Scriptures have been misunderstood through the Ignorance and Darkness of Mens Minds, to think that the Soul or Spirit of Man doth not die, but slips out of the Body; but to imagine that Spirits may walk without Bodies, or that any Witch can raise any Spirit without a Body; and many other Conceits that do arise out of the dark Mind of Man; which have been grounded upon those Scripture Words; therefore I have given the Interpretation of all those Places of Scripture that are of most Concernment, and seem to bear such a Sense, as is generally conceived among Professors of the Scriptures: So that whoever understands the Interpretation, may receive great Satisfaction in their Minds in this Point; so much for Satisfaction of the Understanding in Heart, and for the Discontent of the Ignorant and Dark-minded People, who believe by Tradition that their Spirits do not die, but slide out of the Body at the time of Death; and if they have been evil and wicked Livers, their Spirits do walk afterwards, and cannot be at rest. These Conceits have been exceeding brief in the World heretofore, when People were in Darkness, and so is still where the Darkness of Mind ruleth.

CHAP. XVI.

There is one thing more that would be necessary for the wise in Heart to know, which the Scriptures speak of in several Places; but I never heard any of the Ministry tell what that Satan is the Scriptures speak of, therefore I shall speak a Word or two to shew what Satan is, and so conclude. 1 _Chron._ xxi. 1. _And Satan stood up against_ Israel; and _Job_ i. 6. _And Satan came also among them_; and Chap. xxi. 22. _And the Lord said to Sathan, From whence comest thou? And God said to Satan, Hast thou considered my Servant_ Job? Ezek. iii. 1. _And Satan standing at his right Hand._ Mat. xvi. 23. _Get the behind me, Satan._ Luke x. 18. _I beheld Satan as Lightning fall from Heaven._

1 _Chron._ xxi. 1. _And Satan stood up against Israel, and provoked_ David _to number Israel_. This Satan that provoked _David_, it was the Motions of Reason in himself, being lifted up in his own Mind, in that he had overcome the Children of _Ammon_, he thought to make nothing of the _Philistines_; therefore the Thoughts of his Heart moved him to number the People, to know his Strength. And this Motion that did arise in his Heart, it was Satan, it is called Satan, because those Motions proceed from the Spirit or Seed of Reason in him. In 2 _Sam._ xxiv. 1. it is said, _The Anger of the Lord was kindled against_ Israel, _and he moved_ David _against them to say, Go, number_ Israel: that is, the Lord suffered the Motions of Reason in _David_ to be powerful and strong in him, that no Arguments should disswade him from it, but the People must be numbred; and this was that Satan in _David_, and no Spirit without him.

So _Job_ i. 6. _The Sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan came also among them._ To this I say, the Book of _Job_ is no Scripture, neither are Men to build their Faith upon it, because the Book of _Job_ was written before _Moses_, therefore no Scripture; for _Moses_ his Writing is the first Foundation of Scripture. Yet this I do confess, that _Job_ was a good and faithful Man; and because he was afflicted by Satan, and Satan is spoken of in several Places of Scripture, yet none of them did declare what this Satan is, therefore I shall declare now what that Satan was, that came among the Sons of God.

I declare, the Sons of God they were the Sons of _Job_, who feasted their three Sisters, as you may read. They were called the Sons of God, because they were that good and faithful Man _Job_'s Sons; as the Sons of _Seth_ were called the Sons of God, and _they looked upon the Daughters of Men, and saw that they were fair_, &c. as you may read in _Genesis_. Now that Satan came amongst them when they presented themselves before the Lord, it was the Spirit of Reason in _Job_'s seven Sons, when they feasted their three Sisters, they were moved in their Minds to Voluptuousness, Drunkenness and Lust, as the rest of the Heathen were where they lived; so that they did Wickedness in the Absence of _Job_ their Father: And _Job_ fearing in their Wickedness his Sons had cursed God in their Hearts, as you may see in the Verse before. So _Job_ caused his Sons to present themselves before the Lord, and to worship the Lord, as it was the Manner for _Job_ to do in those times, and Satan came with them, that is, the Spirit of Reason in his Sons came with them, reasoning in themselves; why should their Father _Job_ reprove them for their Wickedness in their Feasts; this was that Satan that came amongst them, for he was in them, and no other Satan but what was within them.

And this is that Satan that goeth to and fro in the Earth, to tempt and destroy those that are faithful: So that this Spirit of Reason, this Satan, it goeth to and fro in the Earth, to tempt and destroy the faithful.

It was that Satan that did motion the _Sabeans_ and _Chaldaeans_ to take away _Job_'s Oxen, and slay his servants as they were plowing; and fired the Sheep, and burnt up _Job_'s Servants; and the _Chaldaeans_ came with a Band of Men, seeing _Job_ smitten and destroyed by the _Sabeans_; and they came with three Bands of Men, and destroyed the Camels and the rest of his Servants.

For this must be minded, that in those Times there was no Law to deliver or help the Innocent, but he that had the strongest Sword carried the Day. And the Lord for Trial of _Job_'s Faith and Patience, and for a Pattern for the Ages to come, he suffered the Spirit of unclean Reason in the _Sabeans_ and _Chaldaeans_ to go to and fro in the Earth, to stir up their People to destroy _Job_ and all his House and Cattle.

Also God suffered the natural Wind to blow down the House where _Job_'s Sons were feasting, and destroyed them according to the Desire of the Spirit of unclean Reason in the _Sabeans_ and _Chaldaeans_. For the Sons of _Job_ were wicked Children, though called the Sons of God.

And last of all the Spirit of unclean Reason in _Job_'s Wife was that Satan that tempted _Job_ to curse God and die: So that there is no other Spirit or Satan without Man: But that Satan spoken of in _Job_, it was the Spirit of unclean Reason in the Minds of the _Sabeans_, _Chaldaeans_, and in _Job_'s Wife and Sons; that was the Satan, and no other.

And as for those Disputes; God had with Satan, and Satan with God; it was nothing else but the Motions of _Job_'s Heart passing through his troubled Soul, the Seed of Faith disputed in him for God, persuading him to be patient, and let that have its perfect Work, and so Hope did increase in him; and the Seed of Reason, which was Satan in him as well as in others, it pleaded against God, Reasoning in him as if God did not do well or justly by him, that had been so righteous in his Life, one who never did no Wrong to his Neighbour, but always feared God; yet that God should suffer the wicked to destroy his Cattle and Servants, and suffer the Wind to blow down his House, and destroy his Children; and not only so, but suffer his Body to break out with Boils and Botches most loathsome, as if he had been the greatest Sinner in the World; so that he thought that God dealt more cruelly with him then with any other Creature. And further, he thought God dealt hardly with him, that he would neither take away his Life, that he might die out of this troubled Mind and Pains of Body, nor restore him to Health. These and such like Reasonings and thoughts passed through _Job_'s troubled Soul even from the Spirit or Seed of Reason in him, which is the Dispute of Satan: For as the Seed of Faith in _Job_ disputed for God so did the Seed of Reason in _Job_ dispute for Satan; for there is no other Satan but what is in Man, as I said before.

So in _Zach._ iii. 1. here _Zachariah_ the Prophet saw in a Vision the Redemption of the Seed of Faith by Christ under the Type of _Joshua_ the High-Priest, standing before the Angel of the Lord, and Satan standing at his right hand to resist him. This High-Priest was Christ clothed with filthy Garments, when he became Flesh, when on Earth he appeared unto Men, to be clothed in filthy Garments, being so mean, and had not a Place to lay his Head yet professed himself to be the Son of God, the High-Priest that should offer up himself for to save his People; for High-Priests in former Times did appear to the People with rich and glorious Garments; but this High-Priest doth appear to the Seed of Reason, to be clothed in filthy Garments, not fit (as Reason thinks) to stand before the Angel of the Lord.

And this Satan that stands as his right Hand to resist him, it was the Spirit of unclean Reason in those People of the Jews when Christ was upon Earth, and when that Devil that tempted Christ, spoken of in _Matthew_, disputed with Christ, he resisted the High-Priest, and stood at Christ's right Hand at that time; and this Devil that tempted Christ, it was a Man endued with an high Pitch of Reason, and that Spirit of Reason, or Wisdom of Reason, in that Man that tempted Christ the High-Priest, it was Satan that strove to resist Christ in dispute, whereupon Christ said, _Get thee hence Satan_.

This Satan was a Man, and the Spirit of Reason in this Man is that Satan that always resisteth the Wisdom of Faith, which is the Wisdom of God. But this hath been more largely treated upon in our other Writings, so I shall speak no more of that Devil and his Temptations here.

So in _Matth._ xvi. 23. Christ said unto _Peter_, _Get thee behind me Satan_. Here you see _Peter_ is called Satan, because it was the Spirit of Reason in _Peter_ that said, Master, pity thy self: That is, the Thoughts of _Peter's_ Heart they did savour of the fleshly part, that is, those Motions to persuade Christ to save himself from Death, they did arise from the Seed of Reason in _Peter_, therefore called Satan; for there was no new Spirit that came into _Peter_ at that time to cause him to speak those Words, but those Words proceeded from the Seed of Reason in him, as aforesaid, therefore called Satan.

And wheresoever that Expression is used, as _Peter_ said himself in the _Acts_, _Why hath Satan filled thine Heart to lie unto the Holy Ghost?_ that is, why hath the Motions of Reason in thee persuaded thy Heart to tell a Lie unto us, that have the Holy Ghost in us?

So the Reader may clearly see, there is no other Satan to tempt God or Man, but the Motions and Words that proceed from the Seed of Reason in Man and Woman.

So in _Luke_ x. 18. _And Christ said unto his Disciples, I beheld Satan as Lightning fall from Heaven_. This Christ spake, because his Disciples rejoyced that the Devils were subject to them. The Meaning of Christ was, that he saw the Spirit of Reason, that was in the Rulers of the _Jews_, very high in the Righteousness of the Law of _Moses_, even as if they were in Heaven, thinking in themselves that none could be more happy and surer of Heaven and Peace with God, then they that kept to the Law of _Moses_.

Now Christ knowing that this Righteousness of the _Jews_, should be thrown down by the Righteousness of Faith, which his Apostles should preach, therefore he saw by Faith that the Spirit of Reason in the Rulers of the _Jews_ should fall like Lightning from Heaven; and so it did, and the Disciples of Christ should, by the Doctrine and Righteousness of Faith, tread upon Serpents, and upon their Persecution, and upon their Righteousness of the Law of _Moses_, and upon all that which did fall like Lightning from Heaven; they should tread upon Satan, that is, upon the very Wisdom of Reason the Devil.

This is the true meaning of Christ, when he beheld Satan fall from Heaven like Lightning, and what Satan is so much spoken of in Scripture. Much more might be said to enlarge this Point, but I have spoken more already then I did intend; but I suppose there is enough written here in short to satisfy those, that can understand by a little what a great deal Means. And also People may know when they speak of Satan what Satan is, and when they speak of the Devil, they may know what the Devil is.

So much concerning the Interpretation of Satan, and the Conclusion of this Epistle, written by

_Lodowicke Muggleton_.

_A Copy of a Letter written by the Prophet_ Lodowicks Muggleton, _to
Mr._ Edward Fewterrill _of_ Chesterfield, _bearing Date from_ London
March 29. 1660.

_Friend_,

I Received your Letter, wherein I perceive you are a Man that hath been led through several Opinions, yet not suffered to joyn with any, but have been made to wait upon Jesus Christ the only God for Satisfaction; and now it hath been his great Love, which he hath loved you, to let you have a Sight of those infinite Truths, written by the Hands of his two Witnesses, and _Lawrence Claxton_; which Writing of ours, I perceive by your Letter, have given you more Satisfaction than any that ever you read before.

Only this I perceive, that you did and do still much approve of _Jacob Bemon_'s Works; and for this Cause, because you were as I perceive by his Writings, exhorted to resign your Will unto God's Will, and to come unto that happy State, neither to Will or Desire any thing, but to abide in the Will of God, which is Jesus Christ, into which Estate the Lord did twice bring you in some Measure.

Also you say, That it is a hard thing to cast out that Devil that is in us, nor can it be done as we say or think, but by that Resignation and Faith in the true God.

Likewise you say, that you were a great Disputant against all Forms and formal Worship, till the Lord silenced you, and did let you see it was but a vain Thing to wrangle and jangle with the Devil more.

But I shall pass by part of your Letter, and I shall answer you to those things that are of most Concernment.

You say, that there was that Portion of Scripture brought into your Remembrance of his Promise, _I will send the Spirit of Truth, which shall guide you into all Truth_, and there have you had your rest reposed.

In the last Place I find, that you would have some Answer to some Doubts, concerning that Devil that doth appear to Witches, and suck of their Bodies, and what that is that doth appear to Conjurers, and the Authors of lying Wonders of _John Robins_; though you do believe there is no Devil but Man, you do believe also that the Soul of Man is mortal, and must needs die, and so cannot appear, though you thought otherwise in your Reason.

You say, Whether is there a Spirit in Man that surviveth and is allured by them, or do they stir up awaking the Power of the first fallen Angel through their devillish Faith, or is these Things from their vain Imaginations. If so, how? if not, what it is, is your Desire to know of me.

To which I shall give you some Answer both to the first of Part your Letter, and also to the latter Part of it.

First you say, that you have been made to wait upon Jesus Christ the only God; for Satisfaction thereof, I would have you to consider, how could you wait and be satisfied in the Belief of such a God which you never knew. For the Letter of the Scriptures did never declare to you, that Jesus Christ was the only God, neither did God commissionate no Prophet nor Apostle for to declare it, though their Declarations was as necessary to be believed in their Time and Place, as this Commission of the Spirit; which Commission of the Spirit hath deeper Mysteries held forth in it, than the other two Commissions had: For God never did give to any Prophets or Apostles, the Knowledge of his own Form or Nature before he became Flesh. If they did know it, they did not reveal it. But he hath given it to his two last Spiritual Witnesses and Prophets, _John Reeve_'s and _Lodowicke Muggleton_, who were those chosen Witnesses of God, which should have more Understanding of the Mind of God in the Scriptures, than all Men in the World.

Which Knowledge of God's Mind in the Scriptures, doth consist of these six Heads.

_First_, Of the Form and Nature of God before he became Flesh.

_Secondly_, Of the Form and Nature of the Devil before he became Flesh.

_Thirdly_, Of the Place and Nature of Heaven.

_Fourthly_, Of the Place and Nature of Hell.

_Fifthly_, Of the Nature and Persons of Angels.

_Sixthly_, Of the Mortality of the Soul.

Upon the Knowledge of these six Principles, depends the eternal Happiness of many. And the Knowledge of the two Seeds, is those two Keys that doth open those two, namely, the strait and narrow Gate that leadeth unto Life, and the broad and wide Gate that leadeth to Destruction. And those two Keys are given unto us two aforesaid, which hath the Commission of the Spirit given unto us.

So that there is no coming unto the Knowledge of the true God, nor the right Devil, but where the Declaration of this Spiritual Commission doth open the Doors or Gates of Mens Hearts, and lets them see what Seed they are of, and so Men come to know the true God and the right Devil. And then a Man may truly say, that he can resign his Will to God's Will, as you say _Jacob Bemon_ in his Writings doth declare.

Yet this I would have you to know that _Jacob Bemon_ had no Personal God at all not to resign his Will unto, but his God was an Infinite, Incomprehensible, Formless Spirit, as all the World hath.

Neither had his Devil a Person nor Form; neither had his Angels he speaketh so much of any Body or Form at all, but they were all Spirits without Bodies, which in the Conclusion was no more but so many Letters, that is, three Letters, G, O, D, and so of the Devil and Angels.

And yet this Man would resign his Will into God's Will, and yet his God had no Form nor Nature at all; therefore they could be no Will in his God, whereby any Man should resign his Will into God's Will; whereas there can be no Will in God, except he hath both Form and Nature.

And this is that Will of God which you call Jesus Christ, into which Estate the Lord did twice bring you, which Estate of yours in that Faith of _Jacob Bemon_'s, could not be a true Estate, because there was not the Knowledge of the true God; and where there is not the Knowledge of the true God, there cannot be the Knowledge of the right Devil; without the Knowledge of these two, there can be no true lasting Peace in Man.

And as for your being a great Disputant amongst all formal Worship, I do not question the thing, because I know that the Wisdom of Reason, which is the Devil, doth love to be uppermost in Disputes.

But how can you say, that the Lord did Silence you, and made you to see the Vanity of all Disputes; whereas you did not know any other God, but what is generally believed on in the World; that is, an Infinite, Incomprehensible Spirit, not minding whether God had any Nature or Form at all.

Therefore it could not be the true Lord that did silence you, but it was something that did arise out of your own Seed, which did shew you the Vanity of all Disputes.

In the next Place you say, that there was brought into your Remembrance that Portion of Scripture concerning his Promise, _that he would send his Spirit of Truth, which should guide you into all Truth_, and there have you had your rest reposed.

Answer, That this Place of Scripture did not belong unto you, nor to any Man in the World at this Day; for that Promise was given only unto his Disciples; which Disciples of his to whom those Words were spoken, were afterwards made Apostles of Christ; so that the Promise which Christ did promise to his Disciples before his Death, was that of the Blood which was given unto his Apostles, which was called the Spirit of Truth, because they should witness unto the Truth; that is, unto his Death and Resurrection and Ascension.

Therefore take Notice of this, that that Promise was fulfilled upon his Apostles after he was ascended up to Heaven, as you may read in the second of the _Acts_, and to every Man that doth read the Promises, which God did make to his Commissionated Apostles, it doth not belong to every Man that doth read them, but every Man is to mind that Commission which he is under.

Therefore for you to repose your Trust upon such Promises as was given to other Men in their Commissions, that Peace will not endure to the End, but will vanish like Smoke in the Fire.

In the next Place, I shall give you some Answers to those Doubts, which you spake of concerning that Devil which doth appear to Witches and Conjurers, and how those lying Wonders were acted by _John Robins_.

Answer, There is a twofold Witchcraft, the one is Natural, the other is Spiritual.

Now this natural Witchcraft is acted by such as are called Witches and Conjurers. Now as for those ignorant Women which are Witches, their Witchcraft lies in their wicked Nature, by giving themselves up to believe, that there is no God at all but Nature only, and so by that strong Faith that they have in Nature, they have Power over those whose Understandings are of a lower Capacity than themselves, and so People being ignorant and fearful of them, doth many times disturb and search their Blood with Extremity of Fear, which they have of one that is suspected for a Witch, and so by their own Fear and Imagination, they come to be bewitched. As a Man being overcharged with extream Grief, or being prevented by one that he loves, he goes Distracted or runneth Mad, which is no other but his being bewitched. And so it is with all those that are ignorant, and over charged with Fear: and as for those Children and Cattle that are bewitched, it is by some other Sorcery which they do use with Herbs and Plants, and some other things of Nature, they having some small Knowledge of that Sympathy, and Influence the Stars have over those Bodies and Herbs, and so mix their Faith and Experience together, pretending to do all Manner of Good, but intendeth nothing but Evil. So that there is no such thing as People do vainly imagine as for Spirits to suck Witches, but all the Devil that is, is their own dark Reason; and that Spirit that doth bewitch any Creature, it doth arise out of their own Imagination: And as for Conjurers and Magicians, their Reason is more enlightened than the others is, because they do go altogether by the Figure, which is an Art by which the Reason of Man hath produced Characters and Figures for the several Stars and Planets, and so they came to imagine the Influence of those Stars and Planets upon the Bodies of Men, and many times they do hit rightly, yet it is still but Witchcraft. For it is nothing else but the Imagination of Reason, that doth pry into the Secrets of Nature. And the first Witchcraft that ever was, it was produced by learning of Numbers and Figures; I say, it was first from the _Egyptians_ Arts, and from thence came Conjuration, and the Knowledge of the Influence of the Stars and Planets and the Knowledge of Physick, which are no other in the Original but Witches, only this their Witchcraft is more tolerated by the Power of the Nations; but I am confident that there is more People in the World bewitched with them, than there is with the other Sort of Witches, that is, they are deceived both in Body, and in Mind, and Estate. For when a Man is deceived in his Expectations and Faith which he had in that Art, he may very well be said to be bewitched: But as for raising Spirits without Bodies, there is no Witch, no Conjurer, or Magician, nor the greatest Artist in the World can do; neither can any Spirit assume any Body but its own. So much for natural Witches.

And for those lying Signs and Wonders which _John Robins_ did act, it was by a more Spiritual Witchcraft; his was not by the Knowledge of the Stars, though he had some Skill in that too, but the Power of his Witchcraft did lye in the assuming and taking upon him the Title of the Great God, as you may read in our Books: And so that his Reason being more exercised in the Scriptures upon Spiritual Matters, because the whole Body of the Scriptures doth consist of Spiritual and Heavenly Matter; and he having more Knowledge in the Mystery of the Scriptures at that time than all Men in the World, therefore he had many that did fall down and worship him; because his Knowledge in the Scriptures, did surpass other Men, and so produced Voices in himself, and could present lying Signs and Wonders, unto all those that were deceived by him, or that where afraid of him; yet he did not deal with Spirits that, had not Bodies; but all that Wisdom and Witchcraft that he did shewn it came or arose out of his own Spirit of Reason, which was inclosed in his own Body.

And there is the Influence of the same Spirit of Witchcraft doth now remain upon those People called _Quakers_, notwithstanding there seeming Holiness, for they have many Times such fleshly Fits falling upon them, which doth seem as if they had the Falling-Sickness, and be as Men dumb, and will not speak a Word for three or four Hours together, and upon a Sudden they will break forth into strong Language, as if the Spirit did immediately move them to speak. This I say, it is nothing else but an Influence of _John Robins_'s Spiritual Witchcraft, which is produced out of their own Spirit within them, and not from any Spirit which hath no Body without them. And all this is, they have no Knowledge of the true God or the right Devil.

Therefore it is that the greatest Part of the World doth lie under Witchcraft, either a Natural Witchcraft or a Spiritual Witchcraft, there is a very few that is delivered from being under one or both of them; there is none delivered but those that are come to have Faith in this Spiritual Commission, which is now extant in the World; for Faith in it doth lead Men to the Knowledge of the true God and the right Devil, with all those deep Mysteries which doth depend on them, the Knowledge of which doth free a Man from all Witchcraft whatsoever.

Therefore I would advise you to read the Books of ours called the _Divine-Looking-Glass_, for that you may see there, that there can be no Spirits without a Body, neither can any Witch or Conjurer raise any Spirit without a Body: But these Conjurers may do through the Ignorance and Darkness of Man's Reason, and that Fear and Belief that is in the Ignorant, they may by their ignorant Power raise a Shadow of things, as if they were real Bodies, or Spirits in the Shape of Bodies; as the _Egyptians_ did before _Pharaoh_ King of _Egypt_, they did seem to raise Frogs and Grashoppers in the Sight of _Pharaoh_ King of _Egypt_; but I say, they were not real Frogs and Grashoppers, but Shadows of such things, which as soon as ever the Witchcraft Power or Art was over, their Frogs and Grashoppers were gone also, else would the King and his People been as much troubled at those Frogs which the Magicians did bring upon their Land, as they were with those which _Moses_ brought up, which went into their Houses. And now if _Moses_ had not raised Bodies as well as Spirits, or if he had raised Spirits without Bodies, they would have been as little troubled at those things which _Moses_ did, as they were at those Shadows or seeming things, which the Magicians of _Egypt_ did. There is something more in your Letter you sent to me, but I have not time at present to answer; _So resteth your Friend_,

Lodowicke Muggleton.

_The Prophet_ Reeve's _Epistle to his Friend, discovering the dark Light
of the_ Quakers; _written in the Year 1654_ September _the 20th_.

_Loving Friend_, Calling to Mind the Letter thou readest to me, which was sent thee out of the Country, I am moved to present these Lines to the View of thy ponderous Spirit; for as Words of Truth flowing from a real Foundation, drew forth Humility and Love to God and Man, from that Soul that hath received an hearing Ear, so likewise thou mayst know the glittering Words proceeding from Man's Carnal Wisdom, is that which hath occasioned many Men to be exalted above Measure, and to imagine himself so essentially united to the Divine Glory, that at length that Man hath been so bewitched through the Adorations of Men and Women in deep Darkness, with high Conceits of his own Spiritual Wisdom, that he hath been willing to deny his creaturely Condition, and to embrace the Holy Titles and Honour of an infinite Creator. Yea, and to say in his Heart and Tongue also, that there is no Spiritual God or Personal Glory in the least, but what is in Man only, notwithstanding, as sure as the Lord Jesus liveth, both he and all that is in him must turn into silent Death and Dust for a Moment, yea, and would so remain unto all Eternity, if there were not a distinct personal Majesty living without Man to raise him again, to everlasting sensible Glory or Shame, according to the Royal Pleasure of that God, that neither will nor can give his Glory to another.

_My Dear Friend_, be not deceived with Mens crafty Words, who have no true spiritual Distinction in them; for if any mortal Man have dwelling in him the eternal Spirit, all the Motions, Thoughts, Words and Actions of that Man must needs be as pure, holy and powerful as God himself, because thou knowest they proceed from a pure, holy, and glorious Spirit: But of the contrary, if thou perceivest a Measure of Light only abiding in thee, which thou in Mercy hast received from an everlasting Jesus without thee, then thou often seest Darkness in thee as well as Light. For Light entred not into Sinners to make them spiritual Gods one over another, but it shined into them to discover their natural Enmity continually warring against a God of eternal Love towards them; and not only so, but to prevent also their former Darkness from tyrannizing in them for ever, yea and to consolate their elect Brethren by their spiritual Experiences.

Wherefore, from a Divine Gift which I have freely received from an unerring Spirit, I say unto thee, that those Men which labour to perswade their Hearers, that if they diligently hearken to the Light that is in them, they may attain to such a Power, as to be dead in this Body from all Kind of inward Darkness, Sin, or Evil, have uttered the falsest Doctrine that ever was declared to Men. Moreover, if the Light of Life Eternal be thy Guide, though must needs know then, it was neither the justifying Light of Christ within Man, no nor the Spirit of Christ without Man, that moved those Men to speak or write to the People; but it was their own lying Imagination which hurried them about to beget Proselytes to themselves in the Man Christ Jesus's stead, who alone _is God over all Blessed for ever and ever_. Amen.

He that is born of God sinneth not, that is he is not left to his own Heart to commit the unpardonable Sin of Unbelief in the true God, in despising the Spirit of Christ Jesus, to be the only Lord God of his Salvation. _He that believeth shall be saved, but he that believeth not is condemned already_, not because he hath not believed in a God, or Christ that is within him, but because he hath not believed in a personal God or Christ that is without him, whose divine Majesty is crowned with such immortal bright burning Glory, that if he did not vail his fiery Nature within his own blessed Body, the Glory of it is so transcendently infinite, that he in a Moment would consume all created Beings to Powder. He that committed that Sin of calling God a Lyar, which is the Sin of not believing in our Lord Jesus Christ as aforesaid, or he that maketh glorious Pretences of unfeigned Love to Christ and his tender-hearted People, and yet secretly lyeth under the Power of carnal Filthiness; such a Man is not only of his Father the Devil, (cursed _Cain_) but he also is a very Devil himself. _He that saith he hath no Sin in him, is a Lyar, and the Truth is not in him_; that is, he that saith Christ is so powerfully risen in him, that all Motions, Thought and Desire of Sin against God or Man, is perfectly done away, that Man is an horrible Lyar, and a deadly Enemy to all humble and broken-hearted Saints; for their natural rebellious warring against the Light within them, and the Lord of Glory without them. Oh! my precious Friend, for whom my Soul spiritually travelleth, till thou art firmly established with glorious Things which are Eternal; not with empty Notions proceeding from an imaginary God or Christ within Men, only which with _Syrenion_ Songs is very pleasing to the carnal Ear, which may delude some undiscerning Spirits for a Season, nor with Pharisaical Looks, Sighs and Groans, to be seen of Men, which is nothing else but the Effects of Mens crafty Words and Gestures proceeding from Man's fleshly Wisdom, which is abominable in the Sight of our God, who is the Lord Jesus Christ in the Eternal Heavens above the Stars.

_My beloved Friend_, give me leave a little to reason with thee, about Things of the greatest Concernment: What excellent Truths above other Men hast thou heard from the chief Speakers of the _Quakers_? Didst thou ever hear them speak to the Purpose? Or speak at all of any God or Christ, but what is in Man only? Or didst thou ever hear them speak of a bodily Glory and Misery to come sensibly to be enjoyed by the Saints in the highest Heavens, and to be endured by the Serpents in this World at the Day of eternal Accounts? Or dost thou see the Image or Likeness the true Jesus in that Ministry, the true and living Jesus, rejected not the Company of Publicans and Sinners, even when his Light appeared not in them; but on the contrary, do they not rashly condemn those Men that soberly oppose them, and shun the Company of those that are not of their Opinion, as Serpents; much like unto those Hypocrites of old, who said, stand farther off, for we are more holy than you. Moreover, in all their Speakings and Writings to the People, do they not make a grand Idol of the Word Light, and occasion Men to worship it as their only God; as if meer Words, were to be adored without a Person, or worshipped within the Bodies of sinful Man as a God: Or as if those that enjoy true Light in them, have such a Measure of God in them, that they stand in no need of any God without them in the least.

_My Dear Friend_, thou knowest Men of unstable Spirits, Child-like, or rather Fool-like, are easily taken with every Wind of Doctrine: But if thou hast a Spirit of true discerning in thee, thou wilt be made thorowly then to try the Spirits and Doctrines of Men, whether they be of God or no, before thou embrace them; having been in the Fire of the Devil already, I hope thou hast gained Experience. Wherefore for thy clearer Sight concerning of the Fallacy of all Speakers, which say, the Lord _Jehovah_, or _Jesus_ sent them, I shall give some discovering Characters; he that saith the everlasting spiritual God or Father, became not a perfect Man of unspotted Flesh, Blood, and Bone, was never moved by the Spirit of God or Christ, to preach or speak to the People; or he that saith, that Spirit which is dwelling in the glorious Body of Christ Jesus, is not the alone everlasting Father, God and Man in one distinct Person glorified, is none of Christ's Messenger; or he that saith, God is not in the Form of a Man, but is an infinite Spirit essentially abiding in all Creatures, that Man is a Lyar, and the Truth is not in him; or he that saith, Christ's Godhead died not in the Flesh, and did not quicken and raise his Manhood to Life again, and in that Body of Flesh and Bone, did not ascend into a Kingdom of Glory in another World, the deep Things of God is utterly hid from that Man; or he that saith all Mankind proceeded from the Loins of the first Man _Adam_, is ignorant of the two Scripture Seeds (namely) the Seed of the Woman, and the Seed of the Serpent, therefore he is none of Christ's sending; or he that saith Mens Souls do not die with their Bodies, and sleep together in the Dust of the Earth, till the Lord Jesus by the mighty Power of his Word speaking only, do raise them unto Life again at the last Day, that Man is in deep Darkness, not knowing the Scriptures or the Power of God; or he that says Mens Bodies only perish (and not the Souls) will be saved at the last, that Man is a Lyar, and the Truth is not in him.

_Dear Friend_,

Thus far was I moved to write unto thee, as an eternal Witness between us, when the Secrets of all Hearts shall be opened. If thou seest good, thou mayst present this Epistle to the View of those Men called _Quakers_, not that I can expect a good Issue from any of them, unless God hath endowed them with hearing Ears, unjudging, meek and patient Spirits.

_Sept. 20. 1654._

_Thine in all eternal Excellencies._

JOHN REEVE.

_An Epistle of_ JOHN REEVE _to Mr._ HILL.

Dear Friend in the eternal Truth, my Love to you and the rest of our Spiritual Friends remembred.

_Brother_ Hill,

It seems very strange to me, That you with the rest of former Friends, make no Enquiry after me whether I am dead or alive. What have the unnecessary Things and Cares of this World swallowed up your former Love to the Truth? Though I am moved in this manner to write unto you, I trust you have not so learned Christ.

_Friend_, The Reason of my not sending unto you this long Season is this, because my Wife and I were both very sick and weak, of which Sickness the 29th of _March_ last my Wife died.

Immediately after I had buried my Wife, the Lord our God called me to visit some of his People living near _Cambridge_, as he once called me to visit you; yea, it was in the very same Manner: For one of the chief Speakers of the _Ranters_ being convinced by this Truth, who formerly had deceived them, took a Parcel of my Books and presented them to them, upon which they greatly desired me as you formerly did; I hope there is about half a Score of them that have received the Truth in Sincerity of Heart, they are Husbandmen and Tradesmen that Labour for their Bread as you do; they rejoyce in those that really possess this Truth though by Face unknown.

_Christopher Hill_,

You seem to forget your Engagement to your Father-in-Law, you know
the Time is expired concerning your Payment of the Money, which was
lent to you, and not to him; wherefore as you love the Truth, I
desire you to send me the Money remaining behind speedily, that I
may restore it to the right Owner.

Now concerning my own Condition it is thus; on _May Day_ last, I was
Senseless two or three times, insomuch, that if a faithful Friend
had not been by me to relieve me with a little Cordial, I had
immediately died. I still continue very sick and weak, so that of
Necessity, I must either mend or end in a little Space. As for
Relief now I have most need of it, it hath been very small of late;
I wish it may not be a Burthen to the Conscience of some when I am
gone; the Widow's Mite will be a Witness against all Carnal Excuses
in those that own this Truth. It may be you may think, I have no
need of your Charity now, because the Merchant for a little Season
allowed me a small Matter Weekly; but if you think so, you are much
mistaken, for I have had none from him a pretty while, neither do I
know whether I shall have any more from him at all: For when he took
Ship for _Barbadoes_, he had not wherewithal to leave his Wife and
Children, through the unjust Dealings of unreasonable Men. Brother
_Hill_, You may remember you sent me Word, that if the _London_
Christians would contribute Weekly or Monthly to my Necessity, you
would do the like, you will do well to keep your Covenant.

And so I commit you to the most High, and remain yours in all
Righteousness,

JOHN REEVE.

My Dwelling is in _Bishopsgate-street_ near _Hog-lane_ End, with
three Sisters that keep a Sempstris Shop.

Direct your Letters to our Brother _Muggleton_, to be conveyed to
me, and the Money to him for me, you know where he dwells; it is in
_Trinity-lane_, over against a _Brown-Baker_'s.

_London June 11. 1656._

_Another Epistle of_ JOHN REEVE_'s to the same Person_.

For his Loving Friend _Christopher Hill, Heel-maker_ in _Stone-street_ in _Maidstone_, in _Kent_. These

_Brother_ Hill,

I Have received your Letter and your kind Token, for which I acknowledge your Kindness to Truth.

As for my Neglect in Writing to you, my great Troubles of Sickness and Mortality hath hindred it, I hope whilst I am able to write, for time to come, you shall not charge me with any such Neglect; in the mean Season, I do not desire your Charity unless you can spare it. Remember my kind Love to your Mother _Wyles_, to _Tho. Martin_, and Goodman _Young_, and I rejoyce in the Lord for you, that the Truth abides in you. As for the Money, I am glad of your Care for the Truths sake, because it was lent to me upon that Account.

No more at present, but desiring my God abundantly to establish you in all spiritual Excellencies, unto whose infinite Grace I commend you in all Righteousness,

_London_, _June_ the last, 1656.

JOHN REEVE.

_Another Epistle of_ JOHN REEVE_'s to the same Person_.

_Brother_ Hill, _in the Eternal Truth_,

My Love to you and the rest of our Friends; this is a Spiritual Love Letter that I am moved to write unto you, wherefore by Virtue of my Commission, I pronounce thee _Tho. Martin_, _William Young_, and _Eliz. Wyles_, the Blessed of the Lord to Eternity; the Remembrance of this the Lord's Blessing, will do you no harm when I am in my Grave; in the mean Season, our good God cause you to love one another more than your temporal Enjoyments, and that will become a Heaven upon Earth in your innocent Souls; Faith fetcheth Spiritual Comfort, the Fountain to each particular Soul; but Love fulfilleth all Righteousness both to God and Man. Oh! the transcendent Excellency of the Love of Christ in his new-born People, it is not to be express'd by the Tongues of Men or Angels.

JOHN REEVE.

_A Copy of a Letter wrote by the Prophet_ JOHN REEVE _to Mrs._ Alice
Webb, _containing her Blessing and the Six Principles, on_ August 15.
1656.

_Loving Friend_,

Desiring your Eternal Happiness in that Place of Glory above the Stars, I am moved from the Spirit of the Lord to write these Lines unto your Serious Consideration.

This I know assured as God knows himself, that Jesus Christ from his Throne of Glory, spake to me by Voice of Words three Mornings together, which Speaking of his hath opened my dark Understanding to declare such Spiritual Light to the Chosen of God, as never was so clearly manifested before, especially in these Six Foundations.

_First_, What the Person of the true God is, and his Divine Nature.

_Secondly_, What the Persons of the holy Angels are, and their Nature.

_Thirdly_, What the Persons of the Devils are and their Natures, and what the Person of the Devil was before he became a Devil, and begot Millions of dark Angels or Devils, it being all one.

_Fourthly_, In what Condition the Man _Adam_ was created in, and by what Means he lost his first estate and the Effects of it.

_Fifthly_, What Heaven and Glory is, and the eternal Residence of it.

_Sixthly_, What Hell and eternal Death is, and the Place where it shall be to Eternity.

This I know certainly, That before the Lord sent me to declare his Pleasure unto his People, no Man upon this Earth did clearly understand any one of these Six Fundamental Truths, which to understand is Life Eternal, and to be ignorant of them is Death Eternal. Now the Lord hath sent his two Messengers to declare them, I mean, to all those that may be informed in these Spiritual Things, and do reject us (that are the Lord's Messengers of these Things of Salvation) through the Love of carnal Things, they must all perish to Eternity.

Again, We know from the Lord by that infallible Spirit that he hath given us, of divers Persons that shall be eternally blessed with us: and all that we pronounce Cursed to Eternity are eternally Cursed, as sure as Jesus Christ the Lord of Life is Blessed, because it is his Curse and not ours.

Again, If the Lord Jesus do not bear Witness unto our Testimony, and make it evident that he hath sent us in a few Months, then you may conclude, that there never was any true Prophets nor Christ, nor Apostles, nor Scripture spoken from the Mouth of God to Men. But there is nothing but the Wisdom of Men and Nature their God. But this we know, that those that are joyned with us, are Partakers of those Truths, and shall be blessed for evermore, and shall in the mean time patiently wait for the fulfilling of our Prophecy, and shall have Power over their Thoughts, Words, and Deeds, purifying their Hearts by Faith in the Person of God even as he is pure, trampling all the Riches and Honour of this World, under the Feet of their Souls as Dung, because they have tasted of that Glory to come, that no Tongue of Men or Angels can express, and this makes them not only love one another in carnal Things, but for the Truth's sake they are ready if (need require) to forsake all Relations, and Life itself for one another; and is that Power of that one only Faith and Truth, declared from the Spirit of God, the Man Jesus by us, which none enjoys but those of this Faith.

Much more might I write, but speaking Face to Face, (if it may be) is far more profitable: _Farewell_.

JOHN REEVE, _the true Prophet, of the only true Personal God, the Lord Jesus Christ upon the Throne of immortal Glory in the highest Heavens_.

_An Epistle of_ JOHN REEVE _to a Friend, written in_ May 1657.

_Shewing_,

That Elect Angels are distinct from him who visibly beheld him Face to Face, and what that Reprobate Serpent-Angel was in his Creation, which by the secret Council and unsearchable Wisdom of God, fell from his created Glory like Lightning from the invisible Heaven above, to this visible Earth beneath; and through his super-seeming God like Counsel, he overcame innocent _Eve_; and she yielding unto him, he wholly entred into her Womb and naturally changed himself into her Seed, and so became the first-born Son of the Devil, and afterwards a cursed _Cain_, and the Father of all those _Cananitish_ Reprobate Angels, spoken of in the visible Records of the Scriptures; _Not as_ Cain, _who was of that wicked one, and slew his Brother_, the 1st of _John_, the 3d Chapter, and 18th Verse. _And the Tares are the Children of the wicked one_, _Math._ 13th Chapter, and the 18th Verse. Also in what Condition _Adam_ was created in, and how he come to fall from his created Estate, and what that sin was that _Eve_ and he were guilty of, and how Sin came first in their pure created Natures.